Surah Ghafir (40) — Ayah 51

(Ayah 51) ➊ { اِنَّا لَنَنْصُرُ رُسُلَنَا وَ الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا … :} From the beginning of the Surah up to here, the summary of the verses is that the people of Noah (peace be upon him) and the nations of the messengers who came after him denied their messengers, argued crookedly with falsehood to defeat the truth, and each intended to seize their messenger, but they could not succeed in their intention. Then Allah destroyed them in this world and has kept the most severe punishment for them in the Hereafter. Musa (peace be upon him) and the believing man who defended him were also helped in the same way, but Allah’s help for His people is hidden. First, they are tested in various ways, then the outcome is in their favor. Since most people focus on apparent causes and are deprived of the insight of faith, they think that they were not helped. After mentioning these events in which Allah’s help with {’’إِنَّ‘‘} is described, now, with {’’إِنَّ‘‘} and the lam of emphasis, and to express His greatness, Allah mentions Himself with the plural pronoun of majesty, saying in very emphatic words: « اِنَّا لَنَنْصُرُ رُسُلَنَا وَ الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا » that indeed We surely help Our messengers and those who believe, whether anyone understands it or not, this is Our way.

➋ { فِي الْحَيٰوةِ الدُّنْيَا:} Here is a question: we see that many messengers could not prevail over their people in this world, many prophets were killed, and the matter of the believers is the same. Then what does it mean, with so much emphasis, to say that We surely help Our messengers and those who believe, in the life of this world and on the Day when witnesses will stand? The answer is that there are many forms of help for the messengers and believers in the life of this world. The greatest help is that they remain steadfast on the truth in all circumstances; no matter how great the temptation or trial, even in the case of martyrdom, their feet do not waver from faith. This steadfastness can never be achieved without Allah’s special help, as He said: « اِنَّ الَّذِيْنَ قَالُوْا رَبُّنَا اللّٰهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوْا تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمَلٰٓىِٕكَةُ اَلَّا تَخَافُوْا وَ لَا تَحْزَنُوْا وَ اَبْشِرُوْا بِالْجَنَّةِ الَّتِيْ كُنْتُمْ تُوْعَدُوْنَ (30) نَحْنُ اَوْلِيٰٓؤُكُمْ فِي الْحَيٰوةِ الدُّنْيَا وَ فِي الْاٰخِرَةِ » [ حٰمٓ السجدۃ : ۳۰، ۳۱ ] “Indeed, those who said, ‘Our Lord is Allah,’ then remained steadfast, upon them the angels descend, [saying], ‘Do not fear and do not grieve but receive good tidings of Paradise, which you were promised. We are your friends in the life of this world and in the Hereafter.’” An example of this help is the People of the Ditch (Ashab al-Ukhdud). Another form of help is that, in terms of argument and proof, they always prevail over their enemy, as Pharaoh was defeated in the field of argument despite all his efforts, to the extent that the magicians who were brought to compete fell in prostration and believed. Another form of help is that Allah grants them such mental and spiritual superiority that, despite all the power, might, and kingdom, the disbelievers are considered by them to be less than a blade of grass. Another form of help is that their enemy are recompensed in this world for the excesses they committed against the messengers and the believers. (See Surah Rum: 47) Then whether that recompense is taken in the presence of the messenger, as happened with the people of Noah, ‘Ad, and Thamud, or after the messenger, as when Allah imposed His severe, fighting servants upon the Children of Israel after they killed some of their prophets, giving them a most exemplary punishment, as mentioned at the beginning of Surah Bani Isra’il, and those Jews who plotted to crucify ‘Isa (peace be upon him), the Romans were set upon them, who humiliated and disgraced them in every way, and they became so scattered in the world that to this day, it is difficult for them to reside anywhere without the protection of some nation. (See Surah Bani Isra’il: 4–7) And one form of help is that they are granted material victory, support, and rule in this world, as Dawud and Sulayman (peace be upon them) were helped. Of these forms, some prophets received only one type of help, some two, and some more. Our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and his noble companions (may Allah be pleased with them) benefited from every type of help.

➌ { وَ يَوْمَ يَقُوْمُ الْاَشْهَادُ: ’’ الْاَشْهَادُ ‘‘ ’’شَاهِدٌ‘‘} can be the plural of, just as the plural of {’’صَاحِبٌ‘‘} is {’’ أَصْحَابٌ ‘‘}, and so can {’’شَهِيْدٌ ‘‘}, just as the plural of {’’شَرِيْفٌ‘‘} is {’’أَشْرَافٌ‘‘}. That is, even on that Day We will help Our messengers and those who believe, when witnesses will stand. The meaning is the Day of Resurrection, when the prophets, angels, the people of faith, the earth, and a person’s own limbs will testify for or against him. On that Day, Allah will help His messengers and the believers by granting them Paradise and throwing their enemy into Hell. See Surah al-Mutaffifin (29–36).